New Delhi, December 5, 2025 – The ongoing IndiGo flight disruptions became a matter of parliamentary scrutiny on Friday, as Congress MP Pramod Tiwari raised concerns in the Rajya Sabha over the airline’s operational failures, alleging that the situation highlighted a monopoly in India’s aviation sector. The disruptions, which have left tens of thousands of passengers stranded across the country, have persisted for four consecutive days, affecting major airports in Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

In his remarks, Tiwari emphasized the scale of the problem, noting that more than 1,000 flights had been cancelled over the past four days, with over 500 flights cancelled just the day before. He highlighted the inconvenience caused not only to regular travellers but also to Members of Parliament, many of whom were scheduled to travel back to their constituencies for the weekend.

“Today is Friday, and many members would like to travel. People have their schedules and will return on Sunday or Monday. This has happened due to the monopoly of a single airline,” Tiwari said, underscoring the lack of competitive alternatives for passengers in the domestic aviation market. He urged the civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, to brief the House on the situation, seeking clarity on the government’s steps to resolve the crisis.

Tiwari’s intervention reflects growing concern among policymakers that the concentration of market share in the hands of a single airline—IndiGo accounts for more than 50 percent of domestic seat capacity—has exposed systemic vulnerabilities in the sector. The MP warned that ordinary citizens are paying the price for these monopolistic practices through flight delays, cancellations, and rising fares.

Political Repercussions

The IndiGo crisis has triggered a wider political debate, with opposition leaders criticizing the government’s regulatory approach. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, described the ongoing situation as a consequence of the government’s “monopoly model.” In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, “IndiGo fiasco is the cost of this Govt’s monopoly model. Once again, it’s ordinary Indians who pay the price – in delays, cancellations, and helplessness. India deserves fair competition in every sector, not match-fixing monopolies.”

The political backlash has added pressure on the government to respond promptly, particularly as the disruptions coincide with a period of high travel demand ahead of the holiday season. Passengers and policymakers alike have called for immediate remedial measures and better oversight of airline operations.

Government Response

In response to Tiwari’s concerns, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju assured Parliament that the Centre is taking active steps to address the issue. He stated, “I talked to the Civil Aviation Minister, and the government is taking the initiative regarding the technical problem in the private airlines. I told him to be ready (with an answer) as MPs would raise concern, and even citizens should have information about it.”

Rijiju emphasized that the government is closely monitoring IndiGo’s operations and working with regulators to stabilize the airline’s flight schedules. His remarks indicated that authorities are cognizant of both the operational and political sensitivity of the ongoing disruptions.

Causes of the Operational Collapse

IndiGo has attributed the disruptions to a combination of regulatory changes and internal mismanagement. The airline reported to aviation regulators that its operational collapse was primarily due to “misjudgment and planning gaps” in adapting to crew fatigue rules, which had been implemented under the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms. These regulations, aimed at enhancing aviation safety by limiting crew duty hours and ensuring adequate rest, were introduced in phases over the past two years.

The airline’s high-frequency, high-utilization operational model, particularly for its Airbus A320 fleet, compounded the problem. With early-morning and late-night flights forming the backbone of IndiGo’s schedule, even minor adjustments to duty hours resulted in cascading cancellations across the network. The airline’s on-time performance fell to a record low of 8.5 percent, highlighting the scale of the operational breakdown.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has intervened to ease the situation. On Friday, the regulator withdrew the new weekly roster norm regarding weekly rest for pilots, which had significantly impacted IndiGo’s ability to operate flights efficiently. The DGCA has also been working with IndiGo to implement temporary operational exemptions to restore normalcy, with assurances that the airline’s schedule will stabilize over the next few weeks.

Passenger Impact

The disruptions have caused widespread distress for passengers. Many have been stranded at airports for hours, while others have had to pay exorbitant last-minute fares on alternative carriers. For example, flights from Bengaluru to Delhi and other key routes saw fares surge to ₹40,000–₹70,000, forcing travellers to make financially burdensome choices. Stories like that of Namita, stranded at Bengaluru Airport with her father’s mortal remains en route to Haridwar, have drawn national attention and highlighted the human cost of the crisis.

Passengers have also faced uncertainty regarding refunds and rebooking options. IndiGo has promised partial refunds, but delays and unclear deduction policies have added to traveller frustration. The situation has underscored the importance of robust contingency planning and communication during large-scale operational disruptions.

Regulatory and Market Implications

The ongoing IndiGo crisis has raised questions about market concentration in Indian aviation. With a single airline controlling more than half of domestic capacity, disruptions at IndiGo have disproportionately affected the national aviation network. Critics argue that a more competitive market structure would provide passengers with alternative options and reduce systemic risks.

Regulators and policymakers are now considering measures to prevent similar crises in the future, including stricter oversight of operational preparedness, enforcement of contingency plans, and evaluation of market concentration issues. The debate has also prompted discussions on balancing safety regulations with operational efficiency, as the FDTL norms, though aimed at enhancing safety, inadvertently contributed to widespread cancellations when airlines were not fully prepared to implement them.

Way Forward

The government has pledged to take steps to ensure that IndiGo and other airlines can operate safely and efficiently while minimizing passenger inconvenience. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s assurance that authorities are actively working with the airline signals a coordinated approach to resolving both immediate operational issues and longer-term regulatory challenges.

For passengers, the immediate priorities remain access to timely information, rebooking options, and transparent refund mechanisms. For the aviation sector, the crisis highlights the need for operational resilience, effective contingency planning, and greater competition to prevent monopolistic vulnerabilities from affecting millions of travellers.

Meanwhile, the political discourse around the issue is likely to continue, with opposition leaders calling for increased accountability and scrutiny of airline policies, and government officials emphasizing safety compliance and operational readiness. The IndiGo disruptions have therefore become not only an operational and regulatory challenge but also a broader political and social issue, reflecting the interconnected nature of aviation, governance, and citizen welfare in India.

Conclusion

The IndiGo flight disruptions of early December 2025 have emerged as one of the most significant aviation crises in recent years, affecting thousands of passengers and drawing national attention. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari’s parliamentary intervention highlighted the human cost and raised concerns over market monopoly, while Union Minister Kiren Rijiju assured that the government is taking remedial measures.

The crisis underscores the vulnerability of India’s aviation sector to regulatory changes, operational planning gaps, and market concentration. It also reinforces the need for airlines to enhance communication, contingency planning, and customer support, especially during periods of high travel demand.

As regulatory adjustments, operational corrections, and political scrutiny converge, the immediate hope is for the stabilization of IndiGo’s flight network and relief for stranded passengers. Beyond this, the episode may serve as a catalyst for broader reforms in India’s domestic aviation sector, aiming for a more resilient, competitive, and passenger-centric industry.